Tipping mechanism



m Vanni I wax w. F. GR'UPE.

TIPPING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, I919.

Patentdi Oct. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

Patented 00$ H, 1921,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. GRUPE, OF HUDSON HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ENDLESS BELT CORPORATION, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK,

To all whom it ww-g concem:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. GRUPE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Hudson Heights, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have lnvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Tipping Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tipping machines and more particularly to apparatus for affixing tipping material such as cork, or equivalent, at spaced locations on a strip of paper, or equivalent material, desirable for use in the manufacture of cigarettes, or like products.

An object of the invention is to provide means for effectually affixing'the tipping material, preferably by continuous feed. Further features of the invention comprise providing length of the tipping material, severing the same to desired dimensions, applying adhesive thereto and effecting the aflixing of the severed tipping material to the strip of paper.

The invention is designed for use directly with any approved type of cigarette making machine and is synchronized in operation therewith to discharge the tipped paper strip in operative relation to the cigarette making machine.

In accordance with my most preferred form of the invention, the cork having the adhesive applied thereto is supplied to the paper strip at a time when the liquid constituent of the adhesive has sufliciently permeated into the cork and the adhering con stituent is in mature condition, applying pressure to the supplied cork and paper under the condition of retarded progress of the paper. Such arrangement when applied to a rod-forming type of cigarette making machine enables the paper strip to progress through the rod-forming mechanism of the machine at the usual required uniform speed. Such correlation of my. tipping mechanism with a rod-forming clgarette machine is effected by the provision of means for retarding the paper to approximately the rate of supply of the tipping material.

Preferably, the cork isfed as a continuous strip of indefinite length, cut to the desired dimensions, adhesive having been applied to the cork under conditions to insure proper by continuous feed an indefiniteawa 'rrrrme mncnsmsm.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d O t 11 1 21 Application filed July 12, 1919. Serial No. 310,361. I

condition of the adhesive, While maintaining the apparatus free from adhesive, feeding such adhes ve-applied cork portions in proper relation to a strip of paper, afiixing the cork portions successively to the strip of paper at desired spaced intervals thereon,

and discharging the resulting product in suitable relation to a cigarette-making machine.

Further features and objects of the invent1on w ll be more fully understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1- is 'a diagrammatic side elevational view partly broken away in central vertical section, showing a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention;

4 1g. 2 is a sectional elevation of the retaln ng drum on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

F 1g. 3 is a detail perspective view of an upper portion of the retaining drum, broken to indicate inner construction;

F 1g. 4 is a diagrammatic, perspective view showing the retaining drum and other parts of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 1, with parts omitted;

Flg. 6 is one form of the resulting product; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a modi-- fied form of the invention.

In the specific form of the invention as shown in Fig. 1, the cork is supplied in indefinlte length in a continuous manner, as by a rotary drum, severing therefrom desired lengths, thereafter applying adhesive of suitable'character to the cork, conveying the adhesive applied, severed cork portion for a determined interval to condition the adhesive, feedinga strip of cigarette paper in close adjacency to the successively fed cork portions, applying pressure to successively afiix the portion to the strip of paper in a certain relation and synchronizing the resultingtipped paper strip in feeding relation to the cigarette making machine.

In the particular apparatus shown 1n the drawings, the reel of cigarette paper is in thence 1n the direction of the arrow 9 beeffect the purpose of the invention. In the.

specific form of gearing and mounting means shown in Fig. 5, the power shaft isv indlcated at 13, suitably mounted (not shown), on which is fixed the gear 14 meshing with the main gear 15, fixed on the shaft 16,, to which is. fixed the sustaining drum l0 2y means of the ke 17, or equivalent.

ixed also on the sha t 16 is the lar e gear 18 meshing with the relatively .smal gear 19, fixedly mounted on the shaft 20 to which is also fixed the severing drum 11, as by means of the key 21, or equivalent.

The sustaining drum 10 is preferably of the pneumatic, i. 'e., suction type, and for such purpose is provided with peripheral retaining means comprising the passages 22 communicating with the interlor of the drum 10, in turn communicating with a suitable air discharge outlet 24 connected witha suitable pneumatic, i. e., suction, apparatus. In the particular form of the invent1on shown in the drawings, a. rotary type of cork retaining means is shown and-the parts so arranged that the larger portion of the peripheral surface of the sustaining drum is effectively employed, the non-efli'ective position being provided with suitable means for'obviating loss of air. .The drum proper 10, is formed of a separable portion,-

. 25 having a substantiallycylindrical peripheral face 26 to which extend the inlets of the respective passages 22, said portion 25 having the outerperipheral annular edge 27 adapted to be sealingly seated on the face 28 of the disk 29, provlded with the boss 30. The disk 29 is fixedly supported 'on the frame 12 by means of bolts or screws 32, the inner cylindrical face of the boss 30 forming a snug fit in sealing relation with the shaft 16. Such disk 29 is provided with the inwardly disposed arcuate flange'33, see Figs. I and 2, 'extending for the extent of noneffective rotation of the airfpassages 22, as is indicated in Fig. l. The severlng drum 11 is indicated inFigs. 1 and 3, the latter being on a somewhat enlarged scale, and

comprises a plurality. of spacediindividual severing means in the form of blades 35, each blade having a chisel edge extendin normal to the direction of travel of the drum 11. Each blade 35 is provided with op disposed shoulders 37, and with suitable re-' silient pressure means such as springs 38,

' suitably adjusted for determining the desired severing pressure, dependent upon the character and condition of the cork, the humidity of the. air at the time ofo'peration positely- 1,ses,ua4

ered. The severing drum 11 is provided also .with the oppositely disposed peripheral rings. 39, coacting with the shoulders 37.

The springs 38 are preferably arranged in balanced relation to each blade 35, as in pairs, countersunk in the recesses 40, the extent of projection ofv each 'blade35 beyond the peripheral face 41 oft'he cutting drum 11 being determined by the rings 39 co'acting withthe shoulders 37 The individual knlves 35, usually having chisel-shaped blades, are arranged on the severingdruin, of suitable diameter and relation to the retaining drum, to effect a severing of .the cork within a predetermined microscopic distance from the unexposed face of the cork, the resulting severed cork portions being retained on the retaining drum 11 so that the abutting.

free from one another.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the

application of the adhesive to the cork isv performed at a stage subsequent to the stage of severing, in which arrangement provision of means'ls made for the proper extent of travel of the cork subsequent to applying of adhesive to properly condition the adhesive, as appears more fully hereinafter.

The cork portions are supplied with-adhesive by suitable adhesive supplying means, such as comprising the fountain 45 adapted to contain suitableadhesive 46, conveyed by the feed roll 47 and the applying roll 48, mounted in suitable bearings carriedby the fountain 45. The feed-r0114? is shown 'hav-- 'ing a portion ofits cylindricalface extendinginto the adhesive and its-flat ends arranged in sealing relation with the side walls 1 1 0 of the fountain 45. The bottom of. the foun' ltain is tapered with a minute-clearance rela-... tive to the cylindrical face of the feedlroll.

47, to effect a coating of=the adhesive of'the desired thickness, to be conveyed. to the applying roll 48.. The applying roll 48 positively driven, as by the gearing drivenfrom the drive shaft 15, or other suitable means. The applying roll 48 extends in suitableadjacency to the location 49 in the 2 path of travel, i.,c.,'the operating face26, of the successive cork portions, to apply adhesive to their exposed faces.

. Each cork portion is progressedthrough a suflicient path of-tr'avcl to insure proper conditioning of adhesive on the face of the cork and proper wetting of the cork, as is provided by the extent of travel'o'f the re taining drum' 10 from the location 49 to the location" 50, at which latterlocation the cork upper face cigarette rod the drum 10 to continue .76 through the portions are successively afiixed to the lower 1 face of the strip of paper 2.

Suitable afiixing means compri es the tamping pad 51 (see Figs. 1 and 4), mounted on the plate 52, suspended from the arm 53, pivotally carried by the pressure arm 54 controlled by the cam 55. The cam 55 (see Fig. 5 also) is mounted on the aforesaid shaft 16.

The cam 55 is provided with spaced cam recesses 56, co-acting with the pin 57, carried by the oscillating arm 58, fixed to the shaft 59, pivotally mounted on the frame 12. The pressure arm 54 is fixed to the oscillating shaft 59 and is tensioned by the retractile coiled spring 60, suitably adjusted in efiective pressure and having its fixed end attached to the frame 12, or other suitable fixed support. The pivotal mounting of the arm 53 on the pressure arm 54 is -preferably by means of the shaft 64 rotatively mounted in the bearing 65, at the free end of the pressure arm 54, and resiliently connected to the pressure arm 54 by means of the arm 65*, receiving one end of the retractile spring 66, its other end being carried by the arm 67, projecting fixedly from the pressure arm 54. The arm 53 is adjustably mounted on the shaft 64, as by the head piece 68, provided with an opening (see Fig. 4), through which the end of the arm 53 projects and with the set screw 69. Such universal mounting of the tamping plate 51-52 provides for accommodation of the plate 52 to the different thicknesses, or variations of thickness of the cork and paper, and for self-adjustment of the plate to the operating face of the rotating drum 10 during the stage of exerting pressure on the cork portions 44 and the relatively delicate paper strip, while allowing its movement.

The paper strip 2 having the tips applied on its lower face progresses in the cigarette making machine along the path indicated by the arrow 61, under the usual action of the tube belt or forming band (not shown) of the cigarette making machine, the tobacco being fed from a suitable hopper onto the of the paper strip 2. The tube belt passes through the usual forming shoe of the cigarette making machine to roll the paper strip 2 and tobacco to form the cigarette rod.

In Fig. 6 the resulting product is indicated as comprising the tip 44 of double size of the tip of a single cigarette and in such case, the is severed by suitable severing means on a line corresponding to the dash line 75 (see Fig. 6) through the tipped portion 44, the paper-strip 2 and the contained tobacco and a line corresponding to the line paper strip 2 and the ,contained tobacco to form the individual cigarettes.

I have discovered that the severing of the cork may be advantageously performed after the adhesive has been applied thereto, and in Fig. 7 I have indicated a suitable arrangement for carrying out such method. As shown, the adhesive fountain 70, corresponding in its parts to the aforesaid fountain 45, like parts being designated by like reference numbers, is positioned along the travel of the cork retaining drum 10 in ad- Vance of the severing drum 71, having the severing blades 35 and otherwise constructed similar to the aforesaid severing drum 11.

For the purpose of providing for the uniform feeding of the tipped paper strip by the tube belt through the forming shoe or other rod-forming mechanism, of the cigarette making machine, and at the same time permit the momentary interruption or retardation of the paper strip 2 during the stage of afiixing the cork portions 44 thereto, I have arranged the loop or slack providing means comprising the oscillating .arm 75 (see Figs. 1 and 4) pivoted at 76 and controlled by the cam 77'through the bell crank 78.

The cam 77 is suitably driven in the direction of the arrow 63 by its shaft 79 in synchronism with the cam 55, controlling the pressure plate 52. The cam face of the cam 77 is provided with the projecting portion 80 and timed to engage the roller 81 of 78 and move the arm 75 upwardly from its position shown by full lines in Fig. 1, to its position 83 shown in dotted outline to let out the loop or slack 82 during the stage of engagement of ressure plate 52 with the paper strip 2, w ereas the remainder 84 of the cam face is substantially circular and depressed relative to the projecting portion 80, and under the action of the retractile spring 85, the arm 75 is moved to provide the loop or slack 82.

Similar loop or slack forming means may be .provided anterior of the location 50, as is indicated at the right in Fig. 1 and comprising the arm 90, pivoted to the frame at 91, and oscillated in synchronism with the tipping device to form the loop or slack during the stage of engagement of the plate 52 withthe paper strip 2, and thereby maintain the reel 1 of paper in motion during the Stage of retardation of the portion of the paper strip 2, held under the plate 52. A convenient form of actuation is by means of j the link 92 connecting the anterior looping arm 90 with the posterior looping arm 75 q and arranged to move the arm 90 to its looping position, indicated in dotted outline 93 when the arm 75 is moved to its non-looping position 83, and vice versa.

1 The invention is particularly applicable for direct use with an approved type of cigarette making machine, to which the resulting tipped paper strip is fed, and the operations of the tipping machine are syn- .the bell-crank 78, to oscillate the bell-crank chronized therewith... To this end, the

aforesaid shaft 13 may be any suitable shaft of the cigarette making machine.

The scraper 94 is. provided for removing V any cork passing beyond the location 50.

Guides 95 are provided for laterally guiding the aper strip 2. It will be noted that the adv nce arrangement-of the adhesive applyin means relative to cork severing means shown in Fig. 7 permits the cork retaining drum 10 to be formed of small diameter for the use of the same or similarcharacter of adhesive, to provide for anv given absolute path of travel of the ,adhesive through the air'for conditioningthe same, whereas in the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the conveying drum is of relatively larger diameter to provide foran equal path of travel.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modi-'.

fications may be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, as defined by the app'ended claims.

tipping material is being, applied to the speed of supply of said tipping material.

2. The method of forming tipped ciga- I rette papercomprising progressing the paper is being applied. to the speedof the tipping as a continuous strip at a certain speed, progressing toward, sald strip tipping material at a difierent speed, applying pressure to the tipping material while in contact with a portion ofthe paper strip and substantially equalizing t e speed of such portion of the paper to which the tipping material material during the stage of applying pressure. 3; The method of forming tipped cigarette paper comprising progressing the paper as a continuous strip at a predetermined speed, su plying under pressure the tipping materia to the paper strip and at a less speed and substantially reducing the speed of the portion of the paper strip to which thetipping material is being applied to the speed of supply terial supplying means.

of said tipping ma 4. The combination with means for pro-,

gressing a .strip of paper continuously at a substantially constantspeed, means for supplying tipping material in successively delivered portions at a different speed,

- .meansior applying.underpressure the individualiportionsof tipping material to the paper strip and meansior substantially equalizing the speed of the portion of the paper to which the portion of the tipping material is being applied to the speed of delivery of the tlppmg material.

5. In the combination with a cigarette making machine having rod forming mechanism and means for supplying a strip of! paper to said rod forming mechanism at a substantially constant speed, meansfor supplying tipping material to the paper strip at a different speed, means for applying under pressure the supplied tipping material to successive portions of the paper strip I and means for substantially equalizing the speed of such successive portions-respectively of thepaper strip to the speed of supply of the tipping material. r

. 6. The method ofsupplying tippingmaterial to a cigarette making machinepro vided with rod forming mechanism including a tube belt, means for operating the tube belt and means for. supplying the paper strip at a substantially constant speed, comprising feeding the tipping materialto suc- 00 cessive portions of the paper strip at a lessP speed, applying pressure to the successive. portions of the tipping material while in contact with the paper strip and reducing the speed of the portion of the paper strip while under such pressure to the speed of the feeding of the supplied tipping material.

'7. In combination with a cigarette making machine, comprising rod forming mechanism including a tube belt, means for op- 10c erating said tube belt and a support for a reel of paper to be fed to said tube belt, of tipping mechanism comprising rotary -means for feeding the tipping material in successive portions, means for rotating said feeding means at a speed less than the speed of the paper, means forapplying pressure .to the fed portions of tipping material while in contact with the paper strip and means for compensating the speed of the portion ofv the paper strip while under pressure to the speed ofsupply of the tipping material, said compensating means comprising members for displacing spaced portions of the paper strip on opposite sides of saidpressure means and means for oscillating said displacing members inversely to the paper strip. I 8. In combination with a cigarette mak ing machine,comprising rod forming mech- .120 v anism including a tube belt, means for opcrating said tube belt and a supportfor' a reel of paper to be fed to. said tube belt,-

of, tipping mechanism comprising substan tially cylindrical means for feeding the tipping material, means :for moving said.

cylindrical means at a speed different from the speed of'the paper and substantially cylindrical means for applying pressure to the tippingmaterial while in contact with ing 9. The comblnation .with substantially cir- 'cular feeding means, of a substantially circular pressure applying means coacting therewith, ailoop-forming element disposed anteriorly of said feeding means and, said pressure applying means, a loop-forming element disposed posteriorly of said feeding means and said pressure applying means, means for moving said loop-forming elements from their respective loop forming positions to their non-loop-forming positions inversely, and means for continuously movin said cylindrical feeding means.

10.. he combination of a cigarette making machine; a tipping device comprising a drum adapted to receive and retain cork of indefinite length; rotary severing means coacting therewith for severing the cork to desired dimensions; said severing means comprising a circular element; spaced individual severing blades, resilient means tendnormally to force said blades beyond the circular periphery of said circular element and means for limiting the extent of outward movement of said blades; and means for feeding the tipped paper strip to said cigarette making machine at a substantially uniform rate.

11. In a tipping mechanism, substantially cylindrical means for feeding cork, means for rotating said feeding means, adhesive supplying means, severing means, substantially cylindrical pressure applying means disposed proximate said feeding means at a certain location,'adhesive supplying means being disposed anteriorly at said certain distance to permit the supplied adhesive to become conditioned, a loop forming element disposed posteriorly of said pressure applying means, and means for moving said loop forming elements alternately into and out of 100% forming positions.

he combination of a cigarette making machine; a tipping device comprising means for feeding a length of cork, a drum having a face adapted to receive .said cork, pneumatic means for retaining the cork on said face, means for severing the cork into portions of desired dimensions, means for supplying adhesive to the severed cork portions, means for feeding a strip of paper in suitable adjacency to a, certain portion of said drum, said certain portion being disposed at an appreoiable distance from said adhesive supplying means, means for rotating said drum, means for exerting pressure on the succesively fed cork portions and said strip of paper, and means for controlling the period of operation of said pressure exerting means.

13. In a machine for applying tipping material to cigarette paper, the combination of a drum for carrying a strip oftipping material, a rotatable member, knives for severing the strip radially carried by and projecting from said drum, said drum and said member being mounted in relatively fixed bearings, and resilient mountings for the knives to project the same at a distance in excess of that separating the adjacent surfaces of said drum and of said member to compensate any variation in the extent of projection of the individual knives.

1 1. The combination with a cigarett making machine, of means for supplying a strip ofpaper, means for supplying a length of tipping material, means for severing sai tipping material, means for aflixing the severed tipping material to the strip of paper, means for looping the strip of pa er anterior of said aflixing means, means or looping the tipped strip of paper posterior of said affixing means and meansfor supplying means, said severing means and said looping means to maintain a substantially constant feed to the cigarette making machine. g p

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 3rd day of July, 1919.

- WILLIAM F. GRUPE.

driving said 

